Dublin MetroLink cannot be allowed to destroy Na Fianna GAA club

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Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD has called on Transport Infrastructure Ireland to make a commitment to engage with public representatives and Na Fianna personnel to find alternatives to the use of the Glasnevin club’s GAA pitches for the new MetroLink route.

The Dublin North West TD said:

“The planned use of Na Fianna’s grounds for the construction of the metro means the club would not have access to its GAA pitches for up to six years from when works begin. This is far too high a price to pay for this piece of transport infrastructure which, while vital for the city, cannot come at the cost of the destruction of the club. Na Fianna is at the heart of the community and there is simply no way it could ever recover from the loss of facilities, revenue and momentum that the proposed works would entail.”

Deputy Shortall added:

“It is just not acceptable that a proposal of this magnitude was sprung on Na Fianna at incredibly short notice and without any prior consultations. This plan is causing enormous concern among generations of people throughout north west Dublin who value and cherish the important role the club plays in our community.

“The series of public meetings scheduled by TII are not good enough – residents aren’t being given enough time to air their concerns and have them properly addressed. TII needs to commit to examining alternatives to the use of the Na Fianna site and then to sit down with club personnel and elected representatives to find another location. I am confident that this approach would lead to outcomes that would cause far less distress and disturbance to the community and would ensure the viability of the club.”